Thompson Hedges On Candidacy

Gov. James Thompson met Thursday with his family, key advisers and his national consultants in a Chicago hotel, still hedging on whether he will be a candidate for an unprecedented fourth term.

Earlier in the day, while he presided at the opening of the 1985 Illinois State Fair, Thompson said he will announce his re-election plans within 10 days.

On the Democratic front, former Sen. Adlai E. Stevenson III, Thompson`s 1982 opponent, said Thursday that he will wait until the December filing deadline to decide whether to run again for governor. In 1982, Stevenson lost to Thompson by less than a percentage point.

Stevenson said one of the reasons he is considering the race is his disappointment with Atty. Gen. Neil Hartigan`s performance as a candidate for governor.

Stevenson, however, said he still ``hoped and expected`` to support Hartigan.

Thompson, who has been the state`s chief executive longer than any Illinois governor, said he is ``almost`` decided on his plans for next year`s election, but declined to be specific with reporters about what his decision would be.

He returned to Illinois Wednesday night after a European trip where he was honored by a Swedish-American organization.

He already has twice delayed announcing his political plans, leading some to doubt whether he will seek re-election. His decision will be announced during the Illinois State Fair but probably not on the fairgrounds, Thompson said.

Thompson, who will have finished 10 years in the executive office when his term ends, including one two-year term, said that ``10 years may not be long enough for a good governor.`` In almost the next breath, he added, ``I`ve enjoyed the last 10. I think I`ve been a good governor. We`ll see.``

Aides to Thompson and state government observers interpreted that as a strong hint that Thompson will announce his candidacy before the Illinois State Fair closes Aug. 18.

Also adding to the speculation that Thompson will seek another four-year term in 1986 is the fact that the governor has no less than four fundraisers scheduled for the next two months and campaign aides are working to set up at least one other.

Thompson has about $930,000 in his campaign fund and has a fundraiser scheduled in Rockford at the end of August, said Kim Fox, executive director of Citizens for Thompson. He also has a $500-a-person fundraiser in New York City Sept. 9 as well as a $125-a-person labor reception in Chicago two days later and a $50-a-person event in Danville Oct. 8, she said.

Hartigan, Thompson`s most likely Democratic opponent, on Wednesday predicted Thompson would not be a candidate, saying that a decade was long enough for any person to hold the same public office.

Thompson responded Thursday saying, ``I`m not sure he understands government and what a governor`s job is all about. A governor`s job is not accomplishing something and then quitting. The people of Illinois don`t quit when they accomplish something.``

Earlier in the week, Hartigan met with another possible primary challenger, political activist Patrick Quinn, and sought to discourage his candidacy. Quinn, commissioner of the Cook County Board of (tax) Appeals, said he told Hartigan that he won`t decide until November whether to oppose him and suggested that they have a ``competition of ideas`` over the next few months. Hartigan characterized the meeting as ``friendly and constructive.``